Olmert has ordered army to observe truce - paper

[cal04]

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert ordered Israel's army to observe a ceasefire in Lebanon from 2 a.m. on Monday (2300 GMT Sunday) except in self defence, the Haaretz newspaper's Web site said.

It said some troops would be withdrawn from southern Lebanon immediately while others would remain to hand over to an international force.

A U.N.-brokered truce between Israeli forces and Hizbollah guerrillas is formally due to take effect at 0500 GMT.

Haaretz said Olmert had met his defence minister and heads of armed forces late on Sunday to discuss the ceasefire.


http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L14349151.htm

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/750061.html

[Zhade]

1. "except in self defence"

Knowing as we do that Israel deems such things as indiscriminate bombing of innocent civilians "defense", will there actually be a truce?

I sure hope so. No more deaths on either side, please!

[uppityperson]

2. Define "self defense"

Is protecting yourself "self defense"? How much do you think you must be endangered for "self defense" to hold? I truly hope this truce works, is good for a step, but, well, can see many reasons for it to not.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

3. their whole invasion was "self-defense"

amazing.

[Eugene]

4. Reuters: Truce goes into effect to end war

Truce goes into effect to end war
Mon Aug 14, 2006 1:29 AM EDT

By Alaa Shahine

BEIRUT (Reuters) - A U.N.-brokered ceasefire to end the month-long war
between Israel and Hizbollah guerrillas went into effect at 0500 GMT
on Monday, and Lebanese security sources said the guns had fallen silent
across southern Lebanon.

The truce is the first step in a process that includes the deployment
of a 15,000-strong United Nations force in southern Lebanon to help
ensure peace after a war that has claimed around 1,100 lives in Lebanon
and 154 in Israel.

"We are entering the stage of a ceasefire. The fire is over," a senior
Israeli army officer, giving orders to troops to stop firing, said
in remarks carried by Israel's Channel 2 TV.

-snip-

Israel launched new air strikes less than 15 minutes before the truce
deadline, targeting areas in eastern Lebanon and near the southern city
of Sidon, security sources said. Fierce clashes between Israeli troops and
Hizbollah were also reported.

-snip-

Full article: http://ca.today.reuters.com/news/NewsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-08-14T052937Z_01_L13492527_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-MIDEAST-COL.XML